Mumbai, July 23 -- Following a nearly two-month-long dispute with the BMC over the proposed privatisation of waste collection and transportation in the city, thousands of motor loaders-those who tip garbage into compactors-on Tuesday called off their impending strike after getting assurances that no jobs will be lost, according to union leaders. The BMC will now proceed with its proposal to hire private contractors, with 24 companies showing interest, officials aware of the developments said. The move will purportedly save the civic body Rs.160 crore every year. Motor loader unions had a meeting with the BMC on Tuesday, following several protests over the last couple of months and threats of a strike. As the civic body is proposing to outsource the waste disposal and transportation work, the 6,000 permanent and 1,500 contractual motor loaders feared they would lose their jobs. The BMC had previously promised the permanent workers that their jobs would not be affected and that they would instead be made sweepers. At Tuesday's meeting, civic officials again assured the workers that their jobs were safe, according to union leaders. "The BMC also assured us that all the benefits the sanitation workers get due to the Lad-Page Committee will continue, including the jobs given to kin of the workers on preferential treatment," said Kapil Patil, a leader of the Municipal Kamgaar Action Committee, formed in the midst of the unrest. "They also said the permanent homes promised to them will be fast-tracked. We are satisfied with the meeting, and the strike has been called off." Kiran Dighavkar, deputy municipal commissioner (DMC) of solid waste management, confirmed that permanent motor loaders would not lose their jobs, but said that the fate of contractual workers is still being discussed. "We have listened to the requests of the motor loader unions. We will consider them and get back to them next week. As for the contract workers being made permanent, we will consider it and get back to them. Permanent motor loaders are assured of having their jobs and payments remaining unaffected. Now, we can go ahead with the waste collection and transportation tender as the unions are satisfied," said Dighavkar. As many as 24 companies have responded to the BMC's Rs.4,000-crore tender for the waste collection and transportation. The contract will include supplying garbage compactors, labour, public bins, and even encouraging segregation....